Producer Article
Bret Brothers
Last edited on 9/20/2010 by mhladik
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Jean-Guillaume and Jean-Phillipe Bret began their winemaking careers in 1992, studying oenology and viticulture at top wine schools in Burgundy and then continuing with practical education at some of the top wineries in the world - Rothschild, Verget, Far Niente, Ridge, Comte-Lafond.
Their estate, Domaine de la Soufrandiere, began in 1947 with a single hectare of vines in Pouilly-Vinzelles (the now famous Climate 'les Quarts'). The next 50 years were spent increasing the family land holdings and working with the Cave Coopérative de Vinzelles, which commercialised nearly all of the grapes in the region. In 1998, the Brets withdrew from the Cooperative in anticipation of Jean-Phillipe and Jean-Guillaume taking the reigns at La Soufrandiere and the rest is history. 2000 was the first vintage that was vinified, aged and bottled by La Soufrandiere.
The Bret Brothers label started in 2001, with the aim of making top terroir-driven wines in Southern Burgundy. Some of the grapes come from their estate land holdings, and some come from single plot vineyards averaging 50 years in age. The Brets manage all aspects of the viticulture process, from bud break to harvest, and work in a completely biodynamic fashion (it should be noted that nearly all of the wines of La Soufrandiere are certified biodynamic).
A favourite of top sommeliers and wine critics alike, the wines of the Bret Brothers are truly wines of people, place and time. They have been championed by the likes of Allen Meadows of Burghound, who writes "If you're not familiar with the wines, I can't suggest strongly enough that you familiarize yourself with them."
Jean-Guillaume and Jean-Phillipe Bret began their winemaking careers in 1992, studying oenology and viticulture at top wine schools in Burgundy and then continuing with practical education at some of the top wineries in the world - Rothschild, Verget, Far Niente, Ridge, Comte-Lafond.
Their estate, Domaine de la Soufrandiere, began in 1947 with a single hectare of vines in Pouilly-Vinzelles (the now famous Climate 'les Quarts'). The next 50 years were spent increasing the family land holdings and working with the Cave Coopérative de Vinzelles, which commercialised nearly all of the grapes in the region. In 1998, the Brets withdrew from the Cooperative in anticipation of Jean-Phillipe and Jean-Guillaume taking the reigns at La Soufrandiere and the rest is history. 2000 was the first vintage that was vinified, aged and bottled by La Soufrandiere.
The Bret Brothers label started in 2001, with the aim of making top terroir-driven wines in Southern Burgundy. Some of the grapes come from their estate land holdings, and some come from single plot vineyards averaging 50 years in age. The Brets manage all aspects of the viticulture process, from bud break to harvest, and work in a completely biodynamic fashion (it should be noted that nearly all of the wines of La Soufrandiere are certified biodynamic).
A favourite of top sommeliers and wine critics alike, the wines of the Bret Brothers are truly wines of people, place and time. They have been championed by the likes of Allen Meadows of Burghound, who writes "If you're not familiar with the wines, I can't suggest strongly enough that you familiarize yourself with them."